Commanders Wire continues a countdown to the Commanders season opener for 2023 in 83 days. Who was Washington’s best player wearing number 83?
Overwhelmingly the answer can only be one player. One former U.S. President once passed a ball to this Washington receiver after asking the celebrating audience, “Where’s Ricky Sanders?”
Former President Ronald Reagan surprised the fans gathering in DC, celebrating the 1987 Super Bowl Championship season, which included a huge 42-10 romp of the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.
Ronald Reagan to Ricky Sanders #HTTR pic.twitter.com/IVZofaCwfn
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) June 3, 2023
Washington actually trailed 10-0 early in the second quarter when Sanders beat Mark Haynes, who was up on Sanders in press man-to-man coverage. Sanders badly beat Haynes down the right sideline, and Doug Williams’ pass was hauled in by Sanders for an 80-yard touchdown.
🗓️ Jan 31st, 1988
🏟️ Jack Murphy Stadium
🏆 Super Bowl XXII
⏱️ 2nd Quarter
🤯 5 TDs in 18 plays covering 5:47
🏈 Doug Williams 9/11 for 228 yds & 4 TDs
🙌🏿 Ricky Sanders 5 RECs for 168 yds & 2 TDs
👟 Timmy Smith 122 rushing yds & 1 TD
🔥 SB record 35 points#WashingtonFootballTeam pic.twitter.com/aEjCLvUNK9— 80s Football Cards 🏈 🙌 (@80sFootballCard) January 31, 2022
Later in the quarter, with Washington now leading 21-10, Williams again found Sanders deep for a 50-yard touchdown, giving the then Redskins a 28-10 lead.
Doug Williams' 50 yard TD to Ricky Sanders pic.twitter.com/5NOCPAGIyn
— Four Verts 🏈 (@FourVerticals_) February 12, 2019
Sanders would set a then-record 193 yards receiving in a Super Bowl game. Sanders had a huge game collecting 9 receptions, including the two long touchdowns from Williams.
Playing his college ball at Southwest Texas State, New England chose Sanders 16th overall in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft.
Following two seasons in the USFL (Houston Gamblers), Sanders signed with Washington in 1986. His best seasons were the 1988 and 1989 seasons. In ’88, Sanders caught 73 passes (1,1489 yards), including 12 touchdowns. The following season Sanders collected a career-high 80 receptions for 1,138 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
In his eight seasons for Washington, Sanders collected 414 receptions for 5,854 yards averaging 14.1 yards per reception and 36 receiving touchdowns. Sanders was one-third of the famous Washington receiving trio of Art Monk, Gary Clark and Sanders, affectionately referred to as “the Posse”.
In Super Bowl XXVI, Sanders caught one pass from Mark Rypien for 41 yards in the Redskins’ 37-24 win over Buffalo.
